spoonful of sugar

Thursday, 29 December 2011

Christmas has been and gone and all there is to remember is recorded in my precious little mini book. I have really enjoyed making this book. In a way, it has helped me appreciate Christmas more, making every moment special enough to record.
I hope that you are ready for quite a few pictures !!

I like this mini book because it has lots of tags with things to read at the back. I am not sure I will make another one next year but I think that the trick to get your Christmas mini book finished is to have it prepared before December. I had all the pages made and I had mostly planed what would go on each one. Things did change and the finish product isn't quite what I expected but I like it all the more.

Now for another picture of something a friend gave me for Christmas. I especially love home made Christmas gifts and I thought this tree was gorgeous, simple but effective.

I will definitely make some more with the kids next year.

If I don't get to speak to you before the new year, have a lovely happy and crafty new year.

Wednesday, 21 December 2011

Here is a little book I have made following instructions from Kirstie Allsopp. Has anyone ever seen her programs? Most of my friends have and they are divided into two very separate groups. Those who think that Kirstie is a complete waste of space and and an insult to modern women, (who in their right mind would ever have the time or the inclination to make such useless things as a felt bird or a heart garland!).. And those friends who like me, think that Kirstie is an inspiration and absolutely can't wait to try and make all the Christmas decorations and gifts that she makes in her programs.

So, with my new sewing machine ( I know I haven't updated you recently but I got a new sewing machine from my mum for Christmas and I know it isn't Christmas yet but we have already celebrated !! ). So anyway, with my new sewing machine and my mum's expertise, a little help from the program and a good stash of leather and paper from my scrapping supplies, I made a Little book and I gave it to a very special friend for Christmas. ( someone who I know would appreciate my effort and excitement at creating such a cute little thing ! ) so... tadadadaaa...

This is the first of many, watch this space.. the teachers will get one for their summer presents and everybody I know for their birthdays !! I have ideas of making mini books with them. I am sooo excited about this, it looks and feels gorgeous, even if I say so myself.

I have also been busy with my Christmas mini book and added pages of our early Christmas dinner, our trip to Winchester, our winter ball and carols in the barn. It is too late to show you pictures now but I will try tomorrow.

Have fun everyone and Merry Christmas if I don't get to speak to you sooner.

Tuesday, 13 December 2011

We have been busy decorating the house and it is now really starting to look like Christmas. Here are a few pictures of what we have done so far..

All these decorations gave me an idea for a page. But since I am way behind writing my Christmas cards, it had to be a very quick page ! And that is so difficult for me. I choose the sketches from Sketchy Thursdays and Sketch in Thyme.

They are quite similar, with three pictures. I decided to use pictures of my new wreath. ( I can spell it now, you will understand when you see my page ! ) I made this wreath last Friday when I went to see my anonymous friends Claire. A friend of hers is a florist and taught us how to use wire and ribbons to make Christmas decorations. This is so clever. I really enjoyed it and my newly painted door looks even better now. But anyway, here is my very quick page with a very obvious corrected spelling mistake !!

Finally I have been busy making a Christmas mini book and here is what it looks like so far..

Tuesday, 6 December 2011

I am so excited and you know why ... father Christmas is bringing me a new lense for my camera, 70 to 200mm. This is sooo cool, I will be able to take a picture of the kids whilst they are playing and they won't even see me !!I am sure there are lots of other things I could do with it, but this is what I am looking forward the most.

At the moment I am having a cleaning obsession. It doesn't happen often, trust me !! but I have found this new product that smells like apples and it reminds me of the shampoo I used to have when I was little, and suddenly, every time I squirt, I am time travelled back to my childhood. I can see myself at summer camp, at my grandma, and suddenly forgotten memories come flooding back. Isn't it strange how the brain works, what triggers your memory. fascinating ! Anyway, I had to scrap this strange new obsession and Sketchy Thursday was perfect as usual.

Here is the sketch..

And here is my take...

May be I should write to the company and ask to be paid for the free advertising !! Mind you, I never said it was a great cleaning product, it just smells good !!

Enjoy the Christmas preparations. It is all go here, kids are sewing stockings at the moment, hence this post is taking me forever as they keep loosing their needle !!

Monday, 21 November 2011

Not much happening on the scrapping front, with a sick bug that seemed to attack everyone in the family, apart from me, but guess what ... I was the one who had to clear it all out !!. Anyway, everyone is back at school and I thought I would show you the result of my baking last week. It was Pudsey Bear day in the UK on Friday, a day of celebrations for Children in Need when lots of events take place to raise money. I thought I would organise a coffee morning here and prepare lots of cakes and biscuits. Well, first, my oven blew up, it literally did as I was baking, and second of all, what on earth made me think I would be up to having loads of big and little people in my house after I have spent the night watching the new Breaking Dawn film. ( which was really rubbish but I loved it anyway !! ). It did go well still and it was really nice to see everyone. I had prepared a few things as I said so here they are, and I know, it isn't quite Christmas yet, but I still like these cute little Christmas trees !!

Hopefully I will get some scrapping done this week, we will see how it goes.